SOMALIA / CONSTITUTION CONSULTATIONS

Preview Language: Original

16-Mar-2020
00:04:44

The electoral process, the question of federalism, power sharing arrangements, justice and security, the rights of women and youth, and the status of Mogadishu as the capital of the country were among the issues discussed during three days of constitutional consultations which concluded today in Dhusamareb, Galmudug State of Somalia. UNSOM

SHOTLIST:
1. Med shot, women, elders, youth, persons with disability and professionals in Dhusamareb attend a three-day public consultation meeting on power-sharing, federalism, the financial system, the justice system, national security, the status of Mogadishu as the capital of the country and other provisions in the draft federal constitution
2. Med shot, elders attending
3. Close up, the youth attending
4. Wide shot, Kafia Abdullahi Naeya, a member of the Outreach team from the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs speaking
5. Close up, a participant with physical disabilities listening
6. Close up, Kafia Abdullahi Naeya speaking
7. Wide shot, persons with disabilities listening
8. Med shot, visually impaired participants listening
9. Close up, a visually impaired person attending
10. Med shot, participants
11. Close up, a participant reading a copy of the provisional constitution
12. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Muhyadin Ahmed Hirsi, Visually Impaired Participant:
“We want a constitution that asserts the rights of the disabled. The disabled have no political, financial or even social representation. For example, we have difficulty accessing buildings, because most have no wheelchair ramps. The law should address this."
13. Close up, Abdiqani Ali Adan, Head of Outreach for the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs speaking at the opening
14. Close up, a participant reading a copy of the provisional constitution
15. Close up, a participant reading
16. Close up, elder Yusuf Hassan Iyow, a participant listening
17. Wide shot, Elder Yusuf Hassan Iyow, a participant reading
18. Wide shot, Abdiqani Ali Adan, Head of Outreach for the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs speaking
19. Pan shot, participants listening
20. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Said Sirad Bar, a participant who took part in Somalia’s past constitution referendums of 1979:
“The difference between then and now is that today’s process is more inclusive. Everyone is encouraged to take part at regional, district and village level and we are all encouraged to freely share our views.”
21. Med shot, an elder listening
22. Close up shot draft constitution
23. Close up shot, Said Sirad Bar
24. Wide shot, participants
25. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Said Sirad Bar, a participant who took part in Somalia’s past constitution referendums of 1979:
“I especially encourage the youth to support and take part in this constitutional review process so as to get a Constitution that will serve their interests and development.”
26. Wide shot, participants attending
27. Close up shot, a participant attending
28. Med shot, participants reading the draft constitution
29. Wide shot, participants
30. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Dahabo Adan Mahamud, Women Representative:
“Since women are among the most vulnerable persons within our society, the constitution is good for us in that it states our rights. It is a big benefit for us know that the constitution protects our rights as full citizens of the country.”
31. Close up, Director General of Galmudug State Ministry of Constitutional Affairs Omar Ahmed Sheikh Adan Speaking
32. Close up, an elder listening
33. Med shot, another elder listening
34. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Omar Ahmed Sheikh Adan, Director General of Galmudug State Ministry of Constitutional Affairs:
“The reason why you should take part is because a constitution basically summarizes rights and duties. If you do not know what the constitution says, it means that you cannot agitate for your rights. It also means that you will not understand your civic duties. Therefore, it is important to take part so that you get to understand your rights and your duties as citizens.”
35. Med shot, elders listening

STORYLINE:

The electoral process, the question of federalism, power sharing arrangements, justice and security, the rights of women and youth, and the status of Mogadishu as the capital of the country were among the issues discussed during three days of constitutional consultations which concluded today (16 Mar) in Dhusamareb, Galmudug State of Somalia.

The public meeting was attended by over one hundred people representing youth, women, religious leaders, elders, civil society groups, academics and persons with disabilities, aimed at having their views included in a future constitution for Somalia.

Abdi Jama Ahmed, who is visually impaired and was speaking on behalf of persons living with disabilities said, “we want a constitution that asserts the rights of the disabled."

He added, “the disabled have no political, financial or even social representation. For example, we have difficulty accessing buildings because most have no wheelchair ramps. The law should address this.”

Said Sirad Bare, Galmudug resident who took part in Somalia’s constitutional referendum in 1979, said the current review campaign was very different to the one taking place that year.

He said, “the difference between then and now is that today’s process is more inclusive. Everyone is encouraged to take part at regional, district and village level and we are all encouraged to freely share our views.”

He also said, “I especially encourage the youth to support and take part in this constitutional review process to get a constitution that will serve their interests and development.”

Somalia's constitutional review process was launched in 2018. It aims to replace the current Provisional Constitution, which was adopted in 2012, ahead of the ‘one-person, one-vote’ elections scheduled for 2020/21.

After group discussions, a representative from a women’s organization, Dahabo Adan Mahamud, said she was encouraged to see that the Provisional Constitution has guaranteed the rights of women, especially the provision stating that all citizens regardless of gender, religion, social or economic status have equal rights and duties before the law.

She said, “since women are among the most vulnerable persons within our society, the constitution is good for us in that it states our rights. It is a big benefit for us to know that the constitution protects our rights as full citizens of the country.”

Speaking at the consultations, the Director-General of Galmudug’s Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Omar Ahmed Sheikh Adan, urged the state’s residents to take advantage of the inclusive and transparent view process to put their views across.

Adan said, “the reason why you should take part is because a constitution basically summarises rights and duties. If you do not know what the constitution says, it means that you cannot agitate for your rights. It also means that you will not understand your civic duties. Therefore, it is important to take part so that you get to understand your rights and your duties as citizens.”

Organised by the Federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), a public outreach campaign on the different consultations across the country has been taking place, aiming to advance the country's constitutional review process, a key milestone in the state-building process of Somalia. Similar public consultations have been held in Hirshabelle and the South West State of Somalia.